Multi barrel automatic weapon

ABSTRACT

A gun has at least a barrel, at least a chamber, means for moving said chamber transversely with respect to said barrel between a non coaxial feed station and a coaxial lock and fire station, means for chambering a fresh cartridge in said chamber and thereby ejecting along a path any misfired cartridge, and means for normally blocking said path and for unblocking said path in the presence of a misfired cartridge.

[ Sept. 25,1973

United States Patent [191 Seemann 42/60 X Ludovici................................. 42/59 2,950,652 8/1960 OBrien............-................. 1,342,358 6/1920 Storle 3,170,261 2/1965 [73] Assignee: General Electric Company, Examiner-Stephen, 0 Bentley Burlington, Vt. Att0rney-Bailin L. Kuch, Irving M. Freedman, Harry C. Burgess, Frank L. Neuhauser, Oscar B. Waddell and June 1971 Joseph B. Forman [22] Filed:

[21] Appl. No.1 148,651

[57] ABSTRACT I A gun has at least a barrel, at least a chamber, means for moving said chamber transversely with respectto said barrel between a non coaxial feed station and a coaxial lock and fire station, means for chambering a Field of 42/15; 89/] L, 12, 13, 33 ML, 126, 155' fresh cartridge in said chamber and thereby ejecting [56] References Cited along a path any misfired cartridge, and means for nor- UNITED STATES PATENTS mally blocking said path and for unblocking said path in the presence of a misfired cartridge.

7 Claims, 8' Drawing Figures PMENTEU 3.760.683

SHLEI 5 BF 5 I N VENTOR. Jams 7- SEEM/w MULTI BARREL AUTOMATIC WEAPON This invention relates to automatic weapons having a plurality of barrels mounted for rotation about a common axis and adapted to shoot caseless ammunition.

The invention herein described was made in the course of or under a contract or subcontract thereunder with the Department of the Air Force.

2. Prior Art Richard M. Tan in U.S. Pat. No. 3,688,637, issued Sept. 5, 1972, has shown a Gatling type gun having a plurality of barrels, a larger plurality of chambers, means for inserting at a fast rate a cartridge forwardly into a respective chamber, and means for receiving a misfired cartridge as it is pushed forwardly at said fast rate out of said chamber by a fresh cartridge being inserted forwardly, and for accelerating the misfired cartridge away from the fresh cartridge and out of said chamber. This last means includes a longitudinally moving friction surface which engages the external cylindrical surface of the cartridge as it is pushed out through a fixed opening in the housing forward of the chambers.

John F. OBrien in U.S. Pat. No. 2,959,106, issued Nov. 8, 1960, and in U.S. Pat. No. 2,971,440, issued Feb. 14, 1961, has also shown a Gatling type gun of the same genre wherein cartridge cases are pushed out through a fixed opening in the housing forward of the chamber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a forwardly advancing, misfire ejection system wherein the misfired cartridge is pushed out through a normally closed, but misfire sensitive and openable, port in the housing forward of the chamber, to provide positive control of the extent of forward travel of all fresh cartridges.

A feature of this invention is the provision of a gun having at least a barrel, at least a chamber, means for moving said chamber transversely with respect to said barrel between a noncoaxial feed station and a coaxial lock and fire station, means for chambering a fresh cartridge in said chamber and thereby ejecting along a path any misfired cartridge, and means for normally blocking said path and for unblocking said path in the presence of a misfired cartridge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING These and other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from'the following specification thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which: I

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation in longitudinal crosssection of a Gatling type gun, similar to that shown in Ser. No. 18,096, embodying the invention; I

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the gun of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a transverse view, looking aft, of a portion of the gun of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A is a detail view in cross-section, taken along the plane 4A--4A of FIG. 4;

view of a portion of the gun of the gun of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a transverse view, looking aft, of a portion of the gun of FIG. 1, illustrating the separable chamber structure;

FIG. 7 is a transverse view, looking forward, of the ejected rounds stop of the gun of FIG. 1.

THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The weapon shown is a variant of the classic Gatling principle, and uses a rotating cluster of barrels which is secured in a rotor assembly and is driven by an external power source. Conventional, reciprocating bolts are not employed. Instead, a series of linked, tubular, firing chambers transport the cartridges into the rotor. In the firing position each chamber rests in a respective deep recess in the rotor and is longitudinally secured or locked between the barrel breech face and a surface of the rotor recess. The chambers are swung out of the rotor recess for loading fresh cartridges, and for ejecting such misfires as occur. This is accomplished by using more chambers than barrels, e.g., a loop of 10 chambers for a cluster of six barrels. Since the length of the loop is thus longer than the circumferance of the pitch circle of the barrel cluster, the loop extends free of the rotor for a portion of its travel and is open for loading and chambering by a stationary cam. The chamber then moves laterally into lock position, and firing can thereupon take place. There is no need for a structural locking operation. The fore and aft components of the firing pressure pulse are reacted directly into the rotor structure, and the lateral components are contained by hoop tension in the wall of the chamber.

The housing assembly 10 includes a pair of recoil attenuator assemblies, not shown, which secure the gun to a mount, not shown.

The feeder assembly 50 is also housed in the aft portion of the housing 10. The feeder assembly includes a drive shaft which is journalled through bearing blocks and coupled to a knife blade clutch assembly. A pair of four toothed sprockets are fixed to the shaft to positively advance rounds coming down along and between a pair of guides, through an opening in the housing, all not here shown.

A rotor assembly is journalled for rotation in the housing. The rotor assembly includes a main rotor 72 which has a central, longitudinal bore 74 and six longitudinal bores 76 in an annular row. Six gun barrels 78 are respectively mounted in the bores 76 and secured to the rotor by suitable means, such as interrupted threads, The rotor is journalled to the forward portion of the housing by a pair of annular ball bearing assemblies 80 which is secured by a retaining ring. A forward ring gear 82 is captured onto and between the gun barrels and the rotor.

The aft portion of the rotor 72 has six recesses 100, each coaxial with a respective gun barrel and having a forward transverse face .102 and an aft transverse face 104. The aft ends 106 of the barrels have respective inserts fixed thereto which project slightly aft of the face 102.

t Six firing pin assemblies are mounted in the aft end of the rotor 72. Each assembly is disposed in a respective bore 122.which is coaxial with a respective gun barrel, and includes a body 124 having a stem portion 126 press fitted into the bore and a head portion 128. The head portion has a central bore with a firing pin 130 which is spring loaded aft. The stem portion has a coaxial bore with a hammer 132 which is spring loaded forward. A cam follower 134 is fixed to and projects transversely from the hammer 134 through a longitudinal slot in the stem portion and rides on a firing cam 136 fixed to the housing.

Each of the chambers 190 is formed as a tube having a pair of longitudinally distal clevis lugs 192 at one side and a pair of single lugs 194 at the other side. Each lug has a longitudinal bore therethrough which receives a respective bushing, and adjacent lugs are linked by respective rods each having a forward roller 198 and an aft roller 200. A forward seal is disposed in a recess in the forward end of the chamber and an aft seal is disposed in a recess in the aft end of the chamber.

A forward cam plate 210 and an aft cam plate 212 are respectively disposed in the housing. The cam plates 210, 212 have respective cam tracks 220, 222 for respectively supporting the rollers 198, 200 for guiding the chambers 190 through the transition between the upper and lower portion of the loop, and around the lower portion. In the upper portion of the loop each chamber is disposed in and carried by the respective recess 100 in the rotor 72. Each chamber has two lines of contact 201 with the recess wall profile. This assists in the accurate alignment of the chamber and the respective barrel bore, and provides a clearance space at the bottom of the recess for the accumulation of foreign matter which might otherwise disturb the chamber position.

Rounds handed into the gun by the feeder assembly are chambered by a rotary feed tray 230 and a stationary ram cam 232. The rotary feed tray 230 has six longitudinal recesses 233, each for receiving a cartridge, a tubular forward extension 234, a tubular aft extension 236, and is journalled to the housing by a forward bearing 238 and an aft bearing 240. An annular spur gear 242 is coaxial with and fixed to the aft end of the tray 230. A spur gear of the feeder assembly is also meshed with and is driven by the tray gear 242. The stationary ram cam 232 is a lateral section of a tube and has a cycloidal cam slot 252 having a forwardly sloping shoulder 254 which extends around the complete ram arc at the bottom of the housing and slopes forward one full round length.

An aft chamber sprocket 260, a forward chamber sprocket 262, and a forward misfire sprocket 364 are respectively fixed to the tray tubular forward extension 234. The sprocket 260 and 262, together with a spacer tube 266, serve as the lower sprocket assembly for the chain of chambers 190. The recesses 233 of the tray 230, and the recesses of the sprockets 260, 262 and 264 are respectively coaxial to provide a longitudinal path for a cartridge therealong. The sprocket 262 includes a respective integral clevis 268 longitudinally forward and radially inboard of each recess. A respective door assembly 270 comprising a cup 272 having a bifurcated tail 274, a finger 276, and an elastomeric pad 278 disposed in and protruding aft of the cup is pivotally mounted to each clevis 268 by a pin 280. The door assembly is biased aft, to transversely close the sprocket recess, by a spring 282 mounted on the pin 280 and having its lugs compressed between the door and the forward extension of the sprocket.

A cam 290 is fixed to the housing, encircling the forward extension, forward of the sprocket 262. The cam has a partial-annular aft face 292 which is longitudinally aligned with a mating, partial-annular aft face 294 of the housing. In normal operation, in the absence of misfires, the finger of each transversely extending door assembly rides along these aft faces 292 and 294, and is thereby precluded from accidental opening of the respective sprocket recess. A longitudinally extending slot 296 interrupts the surface 292 and provides a passageway leading to a cam slot 298 which at its beginning 298A has its depth parallel to the longitudinal axis, and as it circles the forward extension gradually twists until its end 2988 has its depth transverse to the longitudinal axis and merging into the surface 292. A leaf spring 300 is fixed to the cam, and its distal end 302 overlies the slot 296 to provide a continuum for the surface 292. A separating blade 304 is fixed to the housing and overlies the aft end of the chambers.

A stop 308 for ejected rounds is fixed to the housing forward of the misfire sprocket 264. A forward ejection sprocket 310 and an aft ejection sprocket 312 are fixed on a shaft 314 which is journalled through the housing, and, via suitable gearing, not shown, is driven by the gear 242.

Gun action may be considered to start with a cartridge in a feeder sprocket, not shown. The feed tray 230 rotates in synchronization with the loop of chambers 190 and the rotor 72. Depending upon the type of feed system used, the cartridge will have been picked up by the sprocket from a conveyor, or handed in directly from the exit unit ofa storage drum. as the feeder sprocket rotates, the cartridge is cammed centrifugally by side guides until its pitch velocity matches that of the rotary feed tray. Handoff into a recess 233 of the rotary feed tray is thus accomplished without any abrupt change in velocity. After hand-off, the cartridge is controlled by the feed tray. Lateral movement of the cartridge is precluded by the contour of the respective recess and the adjacent interior wall of the stationary ram cam 252. The cartridge is carried in coaxial alignment with an empty chamber and is free to move forward longitudinally. Forward ramming begins after the cartridge has been fully captured in the rotary feed tray. As the cartridge is carried around by the rotary feed tray, it is also slid along in the stationary ram cam slot 252, whose shoulder 254 abuts the aft end of the cartridge and cams the cartridge longitudinally forward into the chamber. In FIG. 1 a cartridge 256 is shown partially chambered. Once chambered, the cartridge remains chambered as the respective chamber moves into its respective rotor recess and is sealed between its respective barrel 78 and firing pin head portion 128. The cycloidal shape of the ram cam accelerates the cartridge uniformly, and allows it to decelerate as much as possible under the effect of friction before striking the stop. As the chamber passes the firing position the cam follower 134 rides off a respective cam ramp surface 136 and the released compression spring drives the hammer arm 132 forward to impact the firing pin spindle to fire the cartridge. Since the cartridge is caseless and consumable, the chamber is empty after firing and is ready to receive a fresh cartridge. To clear the gun at the end of a burst, a clutch is disengaged to halt the feeder assembly while the rotor assembly continues to rotate and fire all chambered cartridges. The gun comes to a full stop with all of its chambers empty.

The gun is designed to utilize a telescoped cartridge having a cylindrical shape without any step or taper. Thus a fresh cartridge incoming aft will displace a misfired cartridge presently in a chamber and force it out forward. No provision need be made for separate extraction of misfired cartridges, and this combining of the feeding and extracting process greatly simplifies the gun.

If a misfire is present in a chamber as a fresh cartridge is pushed in through the aft end of the chamber by the stationary ram cam, the misfire will be pushed against the pad 278 of the respective door assembly by the incoming cartridge. At this time the tail 276 of the respective door assembly will be over the spring 300, the door will be pivoted by the misfire about its pivot 280 and its tail will deflect the spring and pass through the slot 296 and subsequently enter the slot 298 through its mouth 298A. The misfire continues out past the door through the aft and forward sprockets 262 and 264 until it is halted by the rounds stop 308. At this time the cartridges reach the separating blade 304 which passes between the misfire and the fresh cartridge and halts the fresh cartridge within the chamber. The misfire is handed off to the ejection sprockets 312 and 310 and passed laterally out of the housing through an ejection port. The tail of the door assembly passes out of the end 298B of the slot 298 and now obturates the forward end of the respective aligned chamber.

While there has been shown and described a preferred embodiment of this invention, it will be appreciated that the invention may be embodied otherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described, and that certain changes in the form and arrangement of parts and in the specific manner of practicing the invention may be made without departing from the underlying idea of principles of this invention within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A multibarrel gun comprising:

a first plurality of barrels;

a second plurality of chambers;

a first means for moving each one of said plurality of chambers transversely with respect to a respective one of said barrels to and between a non coaxial feed station and a coaxial lock and fire station;

second means for chambering a fresh cartridge in each of said plurality of chambers and thereby ejecting along a path any misfired cartridge in a respective chamber; and

third means for normally blocking egress from each of said plurality of chambers to said path and for unblocking egress from any one or more of said plurality of chambers to said path in the presence of a misfired cartridge in a respective chamber;

said third means including a plurality of movable closures, one for each chamber disposed at said feed station, each having afirst position for obturating egress from the respective chamber and a second position for providing egress; control means for normally retaining each of said plurality of closures in its first position, and for being actuated by a misfired cartridge being ejected by a fresh cartridge in a respective chamber to shift the respective closure to its second position for a fixed period of the gun cycle adequate to pass the misfired round, but not the fresh cartridge, and for then shifting said respective closure to its first position.

2. A gun comprising:

a plurality of chambers;

first means for moving each one of said plurality of chambers transversely to and between a feed station and a lock and fire station;

second means for chambering a fresh cartridge in each of said plurality of chambers and thereby ejecting along a path any misfired cartridge in a respective chamber; and

third means for normally blocking egress from each of said plurality of chambers to said path and for unblocking egress from any one or more of said plurality of chambers to said path in the presence of a misfired cartridge in a respective chamber;

said third means including:

a plurality of movable closures, one for each chamber disposed at said feed station, each having a first position for obturating egress from the respective chamber and a second position for providing egress;

control means for normally retaining each of said plurality of closures in its first position, and for being actuated by a misfired cartridge being ejected by a fresh cartridge in a respective chamber to shift the respective closure to its second position for a fixed period of the gun cycle adequate to pass the misfired round, but not the fresh cartridge, and for then shifting said respective closure to its first position.

3. A gun comprising:

a plurality of chambers;

first means for moving each one of said plurality of chambers transversely to and between a feed station and a lock and fire station;

second means for chambering a fresh cartridge in each of said plurality of chambers and thereby ejecting along a path any misfired cartridge in a respective chamber; and

third means for normally blocking egress from each of said plurality of chambers to said path and for unblocking egress from any one or more of said plurality of chambers to said path in the presence of a misfired cartridge in a respective chamber;

said third means including means for sensing the presence of a misfired round at a predetermined time in the gun cycle and for unblocking egress from a respective chamber to said path and for thereafter holding said egress unblocked, independent of said misfired round, for a fixed period of the gun cycle adequate to pass the misfired round along the path and for then reblocking egress.

4. A multibarrel gun comprising:

a first plurality of barrels;

a second plurality of chambers;

a first means for moving each one of said plurality of chambers transversely with respect to a respective one of said barrels to and between a non coaxial feed station and a coaxial lock and fire station;

second means for chambering a fresh cartridge in each of said plurality of chambers and thereby ejecting along a path any misfired cartridge in a respective chamber; and

third means for normally blocking egress from each of said plurality of chambers to said path and for unblocking egress from any one or more of said plurality of chambers to said path in the presence of a misfired cartridge in a respective chamber;

said third means including a plurality of movable closures, one for each chamber disposed at said feed station, each having a first position for obturating egress from the respective chamber and a second position for providing egress;

control means for normally retaining each of said plurality of closures in its first position, and for being actuated by a misfired cartridge being ejected by a fresh cartridge in a respective chamber to shift the respective closure to its second position for a fixed period of the gun cycle adequate to pass the misfired round, but not the fresh cartridge, and for then shifting said respective closure to its first position;

a sprocket for receiving a plurality of said chambers while disposed at said feed station;

each of said closures being pivoted to said sprocket;

and

said control means including a cam for controlling each of said closures.

5. A gun comprising:

a plurality of chambers;

first means for moving each one of said plurality of chambers transversely to and between a feed station and a lock and fire station;

second means for chambering a fresh cartridge in each of said plurality of chambers and thereby ejecting along a path any misfired cartridge in a respective chamber; and

third means for normally blocking egress from each of said plurality of chambers to said path and for unblocking egress from any one or more of said plurality of chambers to said path in the presence of a misfired cartridge in a respective chamber;

said third means including:

a plurality of movable closures, one for each chamber disposed at said feed station, each having a first position for obturating egress from the respective chamber and a second position for providing egress;

control means for normally retaining each of said plurality of closures in its first position, and for being actuated by a misfired cartridge being ejected by a fresh cartridge in a respective chamber .to shift the respective closure to its second position for a fixed period of the gun cycle adequate to pass the misfired round, but not the fresh cartridge, and for then shifting said respective closure to its first position;

a sprocket for receiving a plurality of said chambers while disposed at said feed station;

each of said closures being pivoted to said sprocket;

and

said control means including a cam for controlling each of said closures.

6. A multibarrel gun comprising:

a first plurality of barrels;

a second plurality of chambers;

a firstmeans for moving each one of said plurality of chambers transversely with respect to a respective one of said barrels to and between a non coaxial feed station and a coaxial lock and fire station;

second means for chambering a fresh cartridge in each of said plurality of chambers and thereby ejecting along a path any misfired cartridge in a respective chamber; and

third means for normally blocking egress from each of said plurality of chambers to said path and for unblocking egress from any one or more of said plurality of chambers to said path in the presence of a misfired cartridge in a respective chamber;

said third means including a plurality of movable closures, one for each chamber disposed at said feed station, each having a first position for obturating egress from the respective chamber and a second position for providing egress;

control means for normally retaining each of said plurality of closures in its first position, and for being actuated by a misfired cartridge being ejected by a fresh cartridge in a respective chamber to shift and to hold independently of the misfired round the respective closure to its second position for a fixed period of the gun cycle adequate to pass the misfired round, but not the fresh cartridge, and for then shifting said respective closure to its first position.

7. A gun comprising:

a plurality of chambers;

first means for moving each one of said plurality of chambers transversely to and between a feed station and a lock and fire station;

second means for chambering a fresh cartridge in each of said plurality of chambers and thereby ejecting along a path any misfired cartridge in a respective chamber; and

third means for normally blocking egress from each of said plurality of chambers to said path and for unblocking egress from any one or more of said plurality of chambers to said path in the presence of a misfired cartridge in a respective chamber;

said third means including:

a plurality of movable closures, one for each chamber disposed at said feed station, each having a first position for obturating egress from the respective chamber and a second position for providing egress;

control means for normally retaining each of said plurality of closures in its first position, and for being actuated by a misfired cartridge being ejected by a fresh cartridge in a respective chamber to shift and to hold independently of the misfired round the respective closure to its second position for a fixed period of the gun cycle adequate to pass the misfired round, but not the fresh cartridge, and for then shifting and respective closure to its first position. 

1. A multibarrel gun comprising: a first plurality of barrels; a second plurality of chambers; a first means for moving each one of said plurality of chambers transversely with respect to a respective one of said barrels to and between a non coaxial feed station and a coaxial lock and fire station; second means for chambering a fresh cartridge in each of said plurality of chambers and thereby ejecting along a path any misfired cartridge in a respective chamber; and third means for normally blocking egress from each of said plurality of chambers to said path and for unblocking egress from any one or more of said plurality of chambers to said path in the presence of a misfired cartridge in a respective chamber; said third means including a plurality of movable closures, one for each chamber disposed at said feed station, each having a first position for obturating egress from the respective chamber and a second position for providing egress; control means for normally retaining each of said plurality of closures in its first position, and for being actuated by a misfired cartridge being ejected by a fresh cartridge in a respective chamber to shift the respective closure to its second position for a fixed period of the gun cycle adequate to pass the misfired round, but not the fresh cartridge, and for then shifting said respective closure to its first position.
 2. A gun comprising: a plurality of chambers; first means for moving each one of said plurality of chambers transversely to and between a feed station and a lock and fire station; second means for chambering a fresh cartridge in each of said plurality of chambers and thereby ejecting along a path any misfired cartridge in a respective chamber; and third means for normally blocking egress from each of said plurality of chambers to said path and for unblocking egress from any one or more of said plurality of chambers to said path in the presence of a misfired cartridge in a respective chamber; said third means including: a plurality of movable closures, one for each chamber disposed at said feed station, each having a first position for obturating egress from the respective chamber and a second position for providing egress; control means for normally retaining each of said plurality of closures in its first position, and for being actuated by a misfired cartridge being ejected by a fresh cartridge in a respective chamber to shift the respective closure to its second position for a fixed period of the gun cycle adequate to pass the misfired round, but not the fresh cartridge, and for then shifting said respective closure to its first position.
 3. A gun comprising: a plurality of chambers; first means for moving each one of said plurality of chambers transversely to and between a feed station and a lock and fire station; second means for chambering a fresh cartridge in each of said plurality of chambers and thereby ejecting along a path any misfired cartridge in a respective chamber; and third means for normally blocking egress from each of said plurality of chambers to said path and for unblocking egress from any one or more of said plurality of chambers to said path in the presence of a misfired cartridge in a respective chamber; said third means including means for sensing the presence of a misfired round at a predetermined time in the gun cycle and for unblocking egress from a respective chamber to said path and for thereafter holding said egress unblocked, independent of said misfired round, for a fIxed period of the gun cycle adequate to pass the misfired round along the path and for then reblocking egress.
 4. A multibarrel gun comprising: a first plurality of barrels; a second plurality of chambers; a first means for moving each one of said plurality of chambers transversely with respect to a respective one of said barrels to and between a non coaxial feed station and a coaxial lock and fire station; second means for chambering a fresh cartridge in each of said plurality of chambers and thereby ejecting along a path any misfired cartridge in a respective chamber; and third means for normally blocking egress from each of said plurality of chambers to said path and for unblocking egress from any one or more of said plurality of chambers to said path in the presence of a misfired cartridge in a respective chamber; said third means including a plurality of movable closures, one for each chamber disposed at said feed station, each having a first position for obturating egress from the respective chamber and a second position for providing egress; control means for normally retaining each of said plurality of closures in its first position, and for being actuated by a misfired cartridge being ejected by a fresh cartridge in a respective chamber to shift the respective closure to its second position for a fixed period of the gun cycle adequate to pass the misfired round, but not the fresh cartridge, and for then shifting said respective closure to its first position; a sprocket for receiving a plurality of said chambers while disposed at said feed station; each of said closures being pivoted to said sprocket; and said control means including a cam for controlling each of said closures.
 5. A gun comprising: a plurality of chambers; first means for moving each one of said plurality of chambers transversely to and between a feed station and a lock and fire station; second means for chambering a fresh cartridge in each of said plurality of chambers and thereby ejecting along a path any misfired cartridge in a respective chamber; and third means for normally blocking egress from each of said plurality of chambers to said path and for unblocking egress from any one or more of said plurality of chambers to said path in the presence of a misfired cartridge in a respective chamber; said third means including: a plurality of movable closures, one for each chamber disposed at said feed station, each having a first position for obturating egress from the respective chamber and a second position for providing egress; control means for normally retaining each of said plurality of closures in its first position, and for being actuated by a misfired cartridge being ejected by a fresh cartridge in a respective chamber to shift the respective closure to its second position for a fixed period of the gun cycle adequate to pass the misfired round, but not the fresh cartridge, and for then shifting said respective closure to its first position; a sprocket for receiving a plurality of said chambers while disposed at said feed station; each of said closures being pivoted to said sprocket; and said control means including a cam for controlling each of said closures.
 6. A multibarrel gun comprising: a first plurality of barrels; a second plurality of chambers; a first means for moving each one of said plurality of chambers transversely with respect to a respective one of said barrels to and between a non coaxial feed station and a coaxial lock and fire station; second means for chambering a fresh cartridge in each of said plurality of chambers and thereby ejecting along a path any misfired cartridge in a respective chamber; and third means for normally blocking egress from each of said plurality of chambers to said path and for unblocking egress from any one or more of said plurality of chambers to said path in the presence of a misfired cartridge in a resPective chamber; said third means including a plurality of movable closures, one for each chamber disposed at said feed station, each having a first position for obturating egress from the respective chamber and a second position for providing egress; control means for normally retaining each of said plurality of closures in its first position, and for being actuated by a misfired cartridge being ejected by a fresh cartridge in a respective chamber to shift and to hold independently of the misfired round the respective closure to its second position for a fixed period of the gun cycle adequate to pass the misfired round, but not the fresh cartridge, and for then shifting said respective closure to its first position.
 7. A gun comprising: a plurality of chambers; first means for moving each one of said plurality of chambers transversely to and between a feed station and a lock and fire station; second means for chambering a fresh cartridge in each of said plurality of chambers and thereby ejecting along a path any misfired cartridge in a respective chamber; and third means for normally blocking egress from each of said plurality of chambers to said path and for unblocking egress from any one or more of said plurality of chambers to said path in the presence of a misfired cartridge in a respective chamber; said third means including: a plurality of movable closures, one for each chamber disposed at said feed station, each having a first position for obturating egress from the respective chamber and a second position for providing egress; control means for normally retaining each of said plurality of closures in its first position, and for being actuated by a misfired cartridge being ejected by a fresh cartridge in a respective chamber to shift and to hold independently of the misfired round the respective closure to its second position for a fixed period of the gun cycle adequate to pass the misfired round, but not the fresh cartridge, and for then shifting and respective closure to its first position. 